Estomo orders manhunt for suspects in deadly Makati holdup
NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCPO) Director Major General Jonnel C. Estomo on Tuesday ordered a massive hunt for the motorcycle-riding thieves who killed a 34-year-old New Zealand national during a robbery-holdup gone wrong in Makati City.
“We regret to report this incident and extend our sympathies to the bereaved family. I have ordered the Makati City Police Station to thoroughly investigate the incident and leave no stones unturned until the culprits are brought to jail and are prosecuted,” the official said.
Estomo referred to the killing of Nicholas Peter Stacey, a tourist from New Zealand who was shot dead along Filmore Street in Barangay Palanan, Makati City, around 12:25 a.m. Monday.
He added that the deadly shooting could really “frighten” tourists and other foreign nationals in the country, although he described it as an “isolated incident” which they will try to prevent with more police patrols 24/7.
The victim’s Filipina girlfriend, name withheld, 31, said they were walking along Filmore St. when a gray Yamaha NMax motorcycle with plate no. “001111” suddenly stopped beside them.
The woman said the back rider immediately alighted from the motorbike and pointed a handgun at them, and declared a holdup while his companion parked the motorcycle a few meters away.
However, the New Zealand national tried to grab the suspect’s firearm, causing the latter to fire a shot that hit the victim in the left chest. The victim died on the spot.
Before fleeing, the suspect grabbed the woman’s A20 Samsung phone and wallet before he and his cohort fled toward Pasay City.
The killer was described as wearing a black t-shirt and red basketball shorts, while his cohort wore a half-face helmet, a black t-shirt, and gray shorts.
A Makati Forensic Group team recovered a slug at the scene, which is now being cross-matched with other slugs recovered in previous crime incidents in the city.
The victim’s girlfriend said they had just arrived from a Palawan trip and were on their way to go to a local laundry shop when the thieves arrived.
